Commutator-assembly mechanism



May 20, 1930. 1 T. FREDERICK 1,759,501

A `COMBIIU".I.ATOR ASSEMBLY MECHAN-lSM Filed March 5, 41928 v 2 sheets-sheet 1 I YS May 20, 193.0- v L. T. FREDERlK 1,759,501

COMMUTATOR ASSEMBLY MECHANISM v2 Sheets-k-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1928 i-ll 1 -lllIII-I l/llllll/llllll/Illllllllll Enum-w A v [N VEN TOR oa/s TFREDER /cK Patented May 20, 1930 nume!)l STATESy PATENT oFl-FICE LOUIS FREDERICK, OF VALPARAISO,l INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO MICA COM.

PANY. OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA COMMUTATOR-ASSEMBLY MECHANISM Application tiled` March 3, 1928. Serial No. 258,860. l

Y My invention relatesy in general to the assembly of multi-part objects, of'whlch com-l mutators are an example, and has more particular reference to the provision... of means for assembling wedge-shaped conducting commutator segments and flat insulating commutator Segments into a desired sequence. I

The assembly of commutators has heretofore been accomplished manually, the custom being to pick up commutator segments by hand and assemble them circularly in proper sequence to form a commutator, the insulating segments being placed between the oopper segments to properly insulate the latter from each other. A commutator frequently comprises a considerable number of segments and it will be apparent that the assembling thereof by hand involves vconsiderable eX- .pense, since it requires the services of an experienced workman-and also requires careful checking after the commutator has been assembled to make sure that the conducting commutator segments have been alternated with insulating segments in order that the finished commutator may function properly. The general purpose of my invention is to provide a simple means for assembling commutator segments in alternate sequence, eliminating the manual labor and the possibilities of error heretofore involved inI the production of 'devices of this character.

In my co-pending application, Ser. No. 197,145, filed June 7, 1927, I have illustrated a device for punching commntator segments from stock strips of suitable conducting and insulatinglmaterial and for assembling the punched segments immediately in a desired sequence in which the wedge-shaped conductingvsegments are alternated with the flat insulating segments. It is not always convenient yor practical to assemble the segments in the desired sequence at the place where the segments areproduced, but due to the exigencles of manufacturing, it is usually desirable to assemble the commutator at a distance from the place where the segments are manufactured and my present invention has for an important object, the provision of a device for assembling commutators under circumstances wherein the segments have' been punched and arranged 1n separate .stacks prior to the assembly.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide a means for maintainlng the wedge-shaped conductlng segments in a'substantial vertical pile or stack so that ments to assume a curved conformation.

Still another important object of my linvfvention is to provide a neat and compact machine for assembling commutator segments, or similar, elements, in a desired sequence, the machine -having removable and replaceable parts whereby it may be, adapted to accommodate diiferent sizes of commutator segments.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent as it is more fully understood from the following description which'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a'prefcrr'ed embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an assembly mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken substantially along the line 2-2 in' Figure l;

Figure 3 isha vertical cross section taken substantially on the line 3 3 in Figure 1;

lFigure-4f is a perspective view showing the relation of certain parts of the device illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of other v movable from theI cover plate which holds it in position, and carries commutator segment magazines 17 and 19, the former of which is arranged to support a stack of wedge-shaped conducting segments 18, the latter 'being adapted to support a stack of flat insulating segments 20. The bed plate 1 is provided with a central opening in which a removable plate 13 may be positioned. The .plate 13 engages the upper end of an assembly channel 45 and supports the same in position. substantially mid-way between the discharge ends of the magazines 17 and 19. The bed plate is provided with grooves 21 formed in its upper surfaces and extending-from the assembly channel 45 outwardly in .opposite directions beneath the discharge ends of the magazines 17 and 19. These grooves are adapted to accommodate reciprocating members 23 and 25 which are adapted to move in the grooves beneath the magazines and carry segments alternately from the magazines 17 and 19 to the assembly channel 45.

The magazine 17 is adapted to carry a stack of conducting segments 18. These segments have a wedge-shaped form in order that they may be arranged into a circular commutator and hence will not stack up easily in a vertical pile. If such segments are supported in a. vertical magazine, they will not `feed therefrom smoothly, but will become jammed and cause the assembly machine to function improperly. In order to obviate this diiculty, I have provided a toothed rack 27 comprising a substantially rectangular bar having a series of parallel notches formed in one side. vrI his bar is arranged in the magazine 17 and the narrow edge or apex of a ycommutator segment is arranged in each notch, the notches being spaced apart a distance so that when a plurality of segments are arranged in the rack, the thick or butt of adjacent segments will engage as shown clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. Such an arrangement supports the apices of the wedge-shaped segments in such spaced relationship that the resulting stack of segmentsis maintained in vertical alignment which allows the stack to be fed down through the magazine without becoming jammed or otherwise impeding the 'uniform passage of the segments through the magazine. In order to allow the rack to pass downwardly through the magazine as the segments are fed into the assembly device, I have provided an aperture 29 through-the bed plate 11 immediately under the magazine 17. In operation the magazines 17 and 19 are respectively filled with stacks of wedgeshaped conducting segments and flat insulating segments. The bottom segment of each stack restslupon the upper surface of the bed plate 11 immediately overthe groove 21. The insert plate 16 is cut away at its lower surface to provide ducts 31 leading from the ternately. When the machine is opera-tedf the member is first moved towards the left in Figure 2 and its forward end engages the lowermost of the insulating segments 2() of the stack contained in the magazine 19 and moves said segment laterally through the duct 31 until the forward end of the segment engages a shoulder 37 formed in the bed plate 11, at which point the segment is immediately above the mouth of the channel 45.

The member 23 is then reciprocated to the right in Figure 2. The member 23 is provided With a cut-out portion 33 whereby when the member is advanced to the right in Figure 2, it may straddle the rack 27 which extends downwardly of the magazine 17 and through the slot 29 in the bed plate. As the member 23 advances to the right,i its forward edge engages the lowest commutator segment 18 of the" stack in the magazine 17 and moves it through the duct 31 to a point immediately over the end of the assembly channel 45, the segment abutting against the shoulder 35 formed in the insert plate 16. Leaf springs 38 are'arranged in the channels 31 to extendv downwardly therein and to` block passage 1n one direction to prevent the retraction of the segments when the members are retracted and to hold the segments against the shoulders 35 and 37, the member 25 being provided with a notch 39 to allow the spring to engage behind the conductingsegment. The cut-out 33 in the member 23 'allows the other spring to function in a similar manner.

In order to move the segments, so introduced into the channel, axially along the channel to make Way for the segments subsequently introduced, I provide a vertically operatmg ram 43 slidably mounted in a journal formed in the lcover plate 16, vertically above the assembly channel. The ram is in posltlon such that when forced downwardly, its lower end engages above the aligned segments and forces them down into the assembl'y tube as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. The ram is driven from the samejsource power which motiv-aies the reciprocating rrembers 23 and 25 and its movement is synchronized so that its downward movement occurs after the segments halve been aligned over the mouth of the chaune members 23 and 25 retract and introduce another pair of segments, which in turn arey After the operation of the ram, the

the arranged segments into a chamber or other device for curving them into a cylindrical commutator as described in my aforesaid co-pending application. 4

It Will be apparent also that by merely changing the cover plate 16 and the channel 45, the machine may be used to assemble segments ofwidely different size and shape, the advantage of which Will be appreciated when it is understood that commutators vary Widely in size and shape of segments, depending upon the siz'e capacity and service requirements of the machine to which it is applied. In my co-pending application, Serial No.

247,672, filed January 18th, 1928, I have shown and claimed a method andapparatus for assembling mica discs in superposed concentric relationship and I do not desire to claim matter herein disclosed and claimed in said fo-pending application.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what i I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. In a machine for assembling commutators, an assembly channel, a plurality of ducts entering the channel radially, means for introducing commutator segments into the channel alternately from said ducts land means for forcing the segments through the channel.

2. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receivlng commutator segments, magazines containmg commutator segments, means for e]ecting commutator segments alternately from said magazines and into said channel and means for forcing the segments through the channel.

3. In a machine forassembling commutators and the like having a channel in which the segments are to be assembled, a magazine for one type of segment, a second magazine for a second type of segment, means for transferrlng segments from the magazines into the channel in-alternate relation and means for' forcing the segments through the channel.

4. In a machine for assembling commutators and the like having a channel in which thevsegments are to be assembled, means for transferring segments to the channel in sequence, first from one magazine and then from the yother and means for forcing the segments through the channel.

5. In a machine for assembling commutators and the like having a channel in which the segments are to be assembled, a for one type of segment and a second magazlne spaced apartfrom the first magazine for containing a second type ofy segment, said magazines being arranged on opposite sides of the channel, means for introducing segments from said magazines into said channel alternately from opposite sides thereof and means for forcing the'segments through the channel.

magazine 6. In a machine forassembling commutators, a main assembly channel for recelvlng commutator segments, a magazine containing l conducting segments, a magazine containing insulating segments, means for ejecting segments alternately from said Amagazine into said assembly channel whereby commutator segments may be arranged in said assembly channel in a regular alternate sequence and means for forcing thesegments through the channel.

7. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel, a magazine for containing insulating commutator segments, a magazine for containing conducting commutator segments, ducts extending from said assembly channel to said magazines, said -magazines being adapted to deposit commutator segments successively in said ducts,

means for moving commutator segments along said ducts and into said assembly channel and means for forcing the said segments through the channel.

8. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, ducts leading int-o said channel means associated with each duct for moving commutator segments therethrough and into the assembly channel and means for forcing the said segments through the channel. l

9.I In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, ducts leadin into said channel, means associated with eac duct for moving commutator segments .therethrough and intothe assembly channel, means forintroducing commutator segments into said ducts and means for forcing the said segments through the channel.

10. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, ducts leading to said channel, means associated With each duct for moving commutator segments therethrough and int-o the channel, means for controlling said first named means so that commuator segments enter the channel from said ducts in a definite relative sequence, means for introducing commutator segments into said ducts and means for forcing the segments through the channell1. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, magazines containing commutator segments and means for ejecting commutator segments from said magazines into said channel in a definite sequence, one of said magazines being formed and arranged to support Wedge-shaped commutator segments in stacked relationship.

12. In a machine for assembling commutatators, a frame,

and a sliding rack cooperating with one -o said magazines to support wedge-shaped corn- Y 'segments in a vertical nel for guiding the segments and means withi 1n the channel for supporting the stack of seg-v commutators successively into the assembling machine, said magazine providing means for supporting said wedge-shaped commutator-s in a vertical pile.

14. In a machine for assembling commuta tors, a magazine for feeding wedge-shaped commutators successively into the assembling machine, said magazine comprising a channel for guiding and supporting a stack of commut-ator segments, and means, movable within the channel, for supporting the segments in a vertical stack.

15. In a machine for assembling commutators, a frame, a main assembly channel formed in said frame, ducts formed in saidl frame and' extending from said .assembly channel, magazines for containing. commutator segments arranged in said frame in position to drop commutator segments into said ducts, reciprocating members operating along. saidducts, whereby to move segments therealong and into said assembly channel, one of said magazines being arranged to support wedge-shlped commutator stac 16. In a machine for assembling commua main assembly channel formed in said frame, ducts formed in said frame and extending from said assembly channel, magazines for containing commutator segments arranged in said frame in positon to drop commutator segments into said ducts, reciprocating members operating along said ducts whereby to move segments therealong and into said assembly channel mrtator segments in vertically stacked relaregularlyinto said assembly machine.

esv

tors, a plurality of ating member or moving said introducedV segments axially through said channel.

for assembling commutal 20. In a machine for assembling commutators,l a frame, a main assembly channel formed in said frame,v frame and extending' radially from said channel, cooperating members for introducing commutator segments alternately,

through said ducts into said assembly chan-u nel, and a cooperating ram for moving said introducedsegments axially in said channel. y In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LOUIS T. FREDERICK.

ducts formed in said .tionship therein whereby said wedge-shaped commutator' segments maybe fed easily and DISCLAIMER 1,75 9,501.`-Louis T; Frederick,- Valparaiso, Ind. l (loMM'U'rA'roR-As's:EMBLYl MECHA- NIsM. Patent dated May 20, 1930. Disclaimer filed December 3, 1931 by the` assignee, Continental-Diamond Fibre Company'. Hereby enters this disclaimer'to claims 3, 4, 8, 9, 1Q, `11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 in said patent, which are in the following words, to Wit:

3. In .a machine for assembling commutators and the like having a channel in which the segments are to be assembled, a magazine for one type of segment, a secondfmagazine fora second type of segment, means for transferring segments from the magazines into the channel in alternate relation and means for forcing the seg- A ments through the channel;

4. -In amachine for assembling commutators and the likeahaving a channel in yWhich the segments are to be assembled, means for transferringsegments t0 the channel in sequencefirst from one magazine and then' from the other and means for forcing the segments through thel channel.

8. In a machine for assembling commutators,. a main assembly channel for receiving commutator-J segments, ducts leading into said channel, means associated With each duct for moving commutator segments therethrough and into the assembly channel and means for forcing the said segments through the channel.

.9. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel forreceiving commutator segments, ducts leading into said channel, means associated -Witl"each duct for moving commutator segments' therethrough and into the assembly channel, means for introducing commutator segments into sald ducts and means for forcing the said segments through the channel. v

10. In'a `machine for4 assembling commutators,.a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, ducts leading to said channel, means associated with each duct for moving commutator segments therethrough and into the channel,

` means for controlling said first named means so that commutator segments enter the channel from said ducts in-a definite relative sequencemeans for introducing commutator segments into said ducts and means for forcing the segments through the channel. 11. In a machine for assembling commutators, a main assembly channel for receiving commutator segments, magazines, containing commutator segments and means for ejecting commutator segments from saidmagazines in to said channel in a definite sequence, one'pof said magazines bein formed and arranged to support Wedge-shaped 'commutator segments in stackedg relationship.

12. In a machine for assembling commutators, a magazine for supporting wedge-l shaped commutator segments in stacked'relationship, said ma 'azine comprising a channel for guiding the segments and Imeans Within the channe for supporting the stack of segments in a vertical pile.

13. In a machine for assembling commutators, a magazine for feeding Wedgeshaped commutators successively into the assemblingfiachine, said magazlne providf ing means for supporting said Wedge-shaped commutators in a vertical pile.

14. In a machine for assembling commutators, a magazine for feeding Wedgeshaped commutators 'successively into the assembling machine, said magazine comprising a channel for guiding and supporting a stack of commutator segments, and means, movable within the channel, for supporting the segments in a vertical stack. I

15. In a 'machine for assembling commutators, a frame, a main assembly' channel formed in said frame, ducts formed in saidframe and extending from said' assembly channel, magazines. for containing commutatorsegments arrangedin said frame in position to drop commutator segments into said ducts, reciprocating members operating along saidvducts, whereby to move segments therealong and into said assembly channel, one of said magazines being arranged to support Wedge-shaped commutator segments in a vertical stack.

. 16. In a machine -for assemblmgv commutators, a frame, amam assembly lchannel formed in said frame, ducts formed in said frame and extendingfrOm said assembly channel, magazines for containing commutator segments arranged in said frame 1n posltion to drop commutator segments mto said ducts,'recip1 ocat1ng em.-

thereinfwhereby said wed e-'shaped commutatorsegments may be fed easily and regularly lntojsaid assemb y machine. 17. In a machine fory assembling commutators, an' assembly channel, means Ifor moving preformed commutator segments radially into said assembly channel and means for .forcing said `aligned segments through the channel.

[Oficial Gazette December 22, 1931.] 

